David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 1312 (2025-04-07)

Notes (S1311)

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Notes (S1313)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (0),  Minor Issues (0),  Small Defects (1),  Continuous Improvement (5)
	Images from 2025-04-07 >>

Session Aims & Highlights (2025-04-07)

Main aims

1. Targets.  Acquire images of a selection of variable stars, nearby stars, comets & deep sky targets as allowed by sky conditions.
2. CompStar. Test updates to new CompStar Acquistion routines that have been made in AstroMain 3.74.5, following the detecttion of a number of small defects during the preceeding S1311 session.

 Equipment & Software

• 12" LX200 and ST-10XME
• 80mm APO and ZWO ASI 178MC
• TheSky6, CCDSoft5, DeviceHub 7.0.3 RC3.4694, MeadeGeneric 1.3.12.522 , UPB 1.5,  Pulsar Dome Firmware 1.51 & Driver 6.3.10
• Pegasus UPB & Motor Focus, TCF-S 6.0.6
• SharpCap 3.2, PHD2  2.6.13, Siril 1.0.6, deCONZ 1.18.2, ASCOM 7.0.3 RC3
• [ DomeLink 1.0 / 1.1 - not used ]
   
• AstroMain 3.74.5,  AstroPlan 1.43,  AstroShCap 1.3.15, AstroGuard 1.10.6   (any new items or versions in bold)
  AstroVOE 1.15.1,  AstroSN 1.14,  AstroProtect 1.10.6,  AstroMove 1.15.5
  AstroWeather 1.27.5, AstroAllSky 3.23.1,  AstroObsCam 1.11.4 (not 1.11.5), AstroColorCam 1.2.2, AstroLaunch 1.12.1

Highlights

• Targets. 21/26 planned targets observations and 2/2 ToO targets were successfully completed. 1 target (CI Cyg) failed as altitude/airmass was below threshold for variable star. 4 targets had missed starts due to their time slots being replaced by the 2 ToO targets.
• CompStar. Test and confirm fixes to CompStar Aquisition routines made in AstroMain 3.74.5 
•   Dome. There was no issues opening/closing the shutter during the session. Dome closed and parked at end of session Ok.

Notes

Summary Plots & Logs

Observing Plan

Observing Result

Dome & Scope Slewing Performance

Slew/Centering Performance

Guiding Performance

Sky Conditions (Locate Frames)

Night Sky Summary Plot Top axis: Sky Brightness at Zenith (in ADU/s) Lefthand axis: Local Time (hh LT). Righthand axis: Sun Altitude (degs)

Actual Weather vs Pre-Session Weather Forecast

Session Event Log

Time     Event Detail 20:01:51 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 21:02 & 04:05 20:01:52   AutoStart Waiting AutoStart waiting till earliest start time at 21:02 21:02:47   AutoStart Delayed Session delayed due to too few stars 21:26:20 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (21:26) 21:26:42   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (to set AutoSave No.) 21:27:10   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -20°C) 21:27:12 Session Created Session Created (Live, 2025-04-07 S01312, ImageSaveNum: 1312001) 21:27:17   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 21:29:03   Services Started Observatory Services started 21:30:11 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 21:30:13   AutoStart Delayed Session delayed due to too few stars 21:30:15 Session Pending Session pending (2025-04-07) 21:30:17 Session Initiating Session initiating (2025-04-07) 21:30:27   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -15°C) 21:30:33   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.43) 21:30:57   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (Plan ID: 1096) 21:31:35   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 21:32:00 Session Equilibration Session ready to Open Dome 21:32:45   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 40s) 21:33:35 Session Running Session running 21:33:38   Queue Started Observing Queue started (26 targets selected) 21:33:41     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 9, HIP 44139) 21:33:56       Dome Unparked Dome unparked 21:37:22       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:40:19       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 21:42:46       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 21:42:49       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 21:44:36       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 21:46:18       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 21:46:34     Target Completed (NrZen) Target completed (Focus Field 9, HIP 44139) 21:47:01     Target Started (1/26) Target started (1/26, AT2025ghv) 21:53:51       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:56:42       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 22:12:47     Target Completed Target completed (1/26, AT2025ghv) 22:12:51     Target Started (2/26) Target started (2/26, GCVS R CrB) 22:21:31     Target Completed Target completed (2/26, GCVS R CrB) 22:21:35     Target Started (3/26) Target started (3/26, GCVS RR Leo) 22:26:18       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:28:18       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 22:34:57     Target Completed Target completed (3/26, GCVS RR Leo) 22:35:01     Target Started (4/26) Target started (4/26, GCVS U Gem) 22:38:49       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:41:06       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 22:44:21     Target Completed Target completed (4/26, GCVS U Gem) 22:44:25     Target Started (5/26) Target started (5/26, MCG +9-31-13 w/SN2023hsb) 23:04:20     Target Completed Target completed (5/26, MCG +9-31-13 w/SN2023hsb) 23:04:25     Target Started (6/26) Target started (6/26, UGC 10058 w/SN2025gvs) 23:08:07       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:11:05       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 23:27:25     Target Completed Target completed (6/26, UGC 10058 w/SN2025gvs) 23:27:30     Target Started (7/26) Target started (7/26, DDO 142 w/SN2023zgx) 23:31:36       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 23:47:51     Target Completed Target completed (7/26, DDO 142 w/SN2023zgx) 23:47:55     Target Started (8/26) Target started (8/26, GCVS CI Cyg) 23:48:00     Target Failed (8/26) Target failed due to airmass limit (8/26, GCVS CI Cyg) 23:57:29     Target Started (9/26) Target started (9/26, T CrB) 00:01:08       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:03:43       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7) 00:09:13     Target Completed Target completed (9/26, T CrB) 00:09:17     Target Started (10/26) Target started (10/26, AT2024dyk) 00:09:32       Dome Unparked Dome unparked 00:13:02       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:15:48       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8) 00:31:53     Target Completed Target completed (10/26, AT2024dyk) 00:31:57     Target Started (11/27) Target started (11/27, T CrB, ToO) 00:54:48     Target Missed (12/27) Target's time slot was missed (12/27, GCVS AM Her) 00:54:50     Target Missed (13/27) Target's time slot was missed (13/27, AT2023ij (CV)) 00:54:52     Target Started (14/27) Target started (14/27, AT2023yvv (CV)) 00:58:43       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:01:31       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9) 01:07:36     Target Completed Target completed (14/27, AT2023yvv (CV)) 01:07:41     Target Started (15/27) Target started (15/27, AT2022pix (CV)) 01:11:10       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:12:59       Focusing Failed Foc1 focusing failed (failed QC check - RmsE) 01:20:19     Target Completed Target completed (15/27, AT2022pix (CV)) 01:20:24     Target Started (16/27) Target started (16/27, AT2023acim) 01:24:02       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:26:20       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 11) 01:43:07     Target Completed Target completed (16/27, AT2023acim) 01:43:11     Target Started (17/27) Target started (17/27, AT2024rbf) 01:47:11       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:49:57       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 12) 02:06:20     Target Completed Target completed (17/27, AT2024rbf) 02:06:24     Target Started (18/28) Target started (18/28, NGC 5957 w/SN2025fvw, ToO) 02:10:07       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:13:04       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 13) 02:29:34     Target Completed Target completed (18/28, NGC 5957 w/SN2025fvw, ToO) 02:29:36     Target Missed (19/28) Target's time slot was missed (19/28, AT2024hr (CV)) 02:29:38     Target Missed (20/28) Target's time slot was missed (20/28, AT2022qyg (CV)) 02:29:40     Target Started (21/28) Target started (21/28, AT2025fbc (CV)) 02:33:07       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:35:49       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 14) 02:52:12     Target Completed Target completed (21/28, AT2025fbc (CV)) 02:52:16     Target Started (22/28) Target started (22/28, C/2023 V4 (Camarasa-Duszanowi) 03:08:21     Target Completed Target completed (22/28, C/2023 V4 (Camarasa-Duszanowi) 03:08:25     Target Started (23/28) Target started (23/28, NGC 5957 w/SN2025fvw) 03:11:56       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:14:53       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 15) 03:30:59     Target Completed Target completed (23/28, NGC 5957 w/SN2025fvw) 03:31:03     Target Started (24/28) Target started (24/28, GCVS Z And) 03:35:33       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:38:15       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 16) 03:43:07     Target Completed Target completed (24/28, GCVS Z And) 03:43:11     Target Started (25/28) Target started (25/28, GCVS BL Lac) 03:46:26       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:49:01       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 17) 03:53:29     Target Completed Target completed (25/28, GCVS BL Lac) 03:53:33     Target Started (26/28) Target started (26/28, AT2022wyp) 03:57:01       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:59:35       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 18) 04:16:54     Target Completed Target completed (26/28, AT2022wyp) 04:16:58     Target Started (27/28) Target started (27/28, AT2022xoh) 04:37:15     Target Completed Target completed (27/28, AT2022xoh) 04:37:19     Target Started (28/28) Target started (28/28, GCVS AM CVn) 04:41:16       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:43:41       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 19) 04:47:22     Target Completed Target completed (28/28, GCVS AM CVn) 04:47:24   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 04:47:28 Session Closing Session closing 04:48:23   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 50s, Zigbee 44s) 04:49:54   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 84s), Az: 90.0 deg 04:50:41   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 41s total) 04:51:05   Telescope State Handbox reads 'Scope parked Turn scope off.' 04:51:27   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 04:52:50   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 04:52:53 Session Finishing Session Finishing started (Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 04:53:25     Dome (Find Park) Find Park started (Search Az 88.0 to 92.0°, Step 0.2°, Narrow) 04:54:11     Dome Find Park found (Best Park Az 90.6°) 04:54:16     Dome Dome has been synced at park position (Az 90.0°, Adjustment: -0.6°) 04:54:18   Dome Parked Dome parked 04:54:38   Dome Charging Dome is parked and re-charging Ok (8mA) 04:54:40 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts & Alarms

Time     Type       Name Detail 04:54:38 Green Clear Dome Charging Dome is parked and re-charging Ok (8mA)

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Operational Issues (2025-04-07, S1312)

• Critical Issues (0)
• Major Issues (0)
• Minor Issues (0)
• Small Defects (1)
• Continuous Improvement (5)
  

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• None

Minor Issues

• None

Small Defects

• CI Cyg target failed due to airmass limit  (23:47). Target 8/26 (CI Cyg) failed due to airmass limit check. Target was at 15.3° altitude and had an airmass of 3.77 which exceeded the airmass limit of 3.3. The failure wasted 11 minutes of Observatory time before the following target (T CrB) was able to begin its time slot. The airmass difference of 0.44 is quite large and is a 'knife edge' issue.  Problem must lay with AstroPlan schedular for placing the target at this time.
  To investigate & fix 2025-04-08 (AstroPlan 1.43.1)

Continuous Improvement

• Commence development of new AstroVma Application for Photometry Data Storage & Analysis. A new Visual Studio project has been created based on AstroPlan, and unrequired parts from AstroPlan (like the Schedule Builder and Plan/Session Charts etc) have been removed to create AstroVma 0.1.  An Sqlite database  photometry.db has been created but tables remained to be added in the database.   New Forms will need to be developed to access & interact with the database tables.
  Done 2025-04-09 (AstroMag 0.1)
   
• Modify AstroMove to include the handling for the new AstroVma project and program. Handling for the new AstroVma project including the backup of the Visual Studio project to backup areas on the Development Computer and to Laptop7 computers and the copying of AstroVma.exe to the new "C:/More Programs/AstroVma" folder have been added to AstroMove 1.15.6.
  Done 2025-04-09 (AstroMove 1.15.6)
   
• Modify AstroLaunch to supporting the launching of the new AstroVma program.  A new 'AstroVma' checkbox & routine to be added on AstroLaunch's Analysis tab to support the launching of  "C:/More Programs/AstroVma"  .
  Done 2025-04-09 (AstroLaunch 1.12.2)
   
• Develop new tables and forms in AstroVma Program for Photometry Data Storage & Analysis. An Sqlite database  photometry.db has been created but tables remained to be added in the database.   New Forms will need to be developed to access & interact with the database tables.
  In Progress  2025-04-14+ (AstroMag 0.2+)
   
• AstroMain should update the Telescope/Target location data sent to AstroAllSky for each CompStar Observation.  During the course of 'T CrB at Max' target acquistion there were 7 slews/observations (4 for CompStar HIP 80816 & 3 for Target Star T CrB), the 7 associated ScopePics shown on the Local Files Web Document, are all abelled T CrB. Positions of the 'target/scope are shown correctly on the ScopePics but the names of object for 4 of the pictures should be shown as HIP 80816 and not T CrB.   In order to be correctly picked up by AstroMain's Local Files document builder these ScopePic file names all need to show T CrB in some way, even though the picture labels show HIP 80816.  This requires careful analysis & implementation involving modifications to both AstroMain and AstroAllSky.
  To investigate & fix 2025-04-08 (AstroMain, AstroAllSky)

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